A Writer’s Journal

Go visit A Biblio Paradise and read the interview with novelist Sandra Worth, whose book Lady of the Roses is definitely on my Top 10 for this year, no matter how many books I read!

I was going to take a reading break yesterday, but, after doing some writing, I read another book for the essay. It helps a lot to read them in order and see how the series has grown. I’m learning as much writing-wise and process-wise as I am gaining material for the essay, which is a good thing.

The writing’s going slowly. I feel as though the various stories are tangled up like a bag of yarn skeins that unraveled, and I have to sit down and pick them apart slowly, and rewind each color to its appropriate skein.

Attended the usual Oscar-watching party last night, the one to which I’ve gone for years. I wasn’t in the mood to socialize, but I made the effort, and it was fine. I was thrilled Tilda Swinton won. I was disappointed Viggo Mortensen did not. Of all the nominated performances, I felt his was the most seamless and chilling. However, the voters went for something more . . .theatrical is the only word I can use. Day-Lewis’s work WAS wonderful, but . . .I could see him work. Mortensen’s portrayal looked effortless (although he put an enormous amount of detailed work into it) and was one of the scariest things I’ve experienced in a long time — which was the point.

Off to do some errands and pay some bills. This is going to be an odd week. I have to get another draft of Tracking Medusa done this week, because it has to be ready to go. And I’ve got to pitch for some freelance jobs. The job boards have completely sucked lately, so it’s time to get more inventive. But focusing on anything exterior right now is very difficult.

Devon

Devon’s Bookstore:

5 in 10: Create 5 Short Stories in Ten Weeks by Devon Ellington. This ebooklet takes you from inspiration to writing to revision to marketing. By the end of ten weeks, you will have either 5 short stories or a good chunk of a novella complete. And it’s only 50 cents, USD. Here.

Writing Rituals: Ideas to Support Creativity by Cerridwen Iris Shea. This ebooklet contains several rituals to help you start writing, get you through writer’s block, and help send your work on its way. It’s only 39 cents USD. (Note: Cerridwen Iris Shea is one of the six names under which I publish). Here.

Full Circle: An Ars Concordia Anthology. Edited by Colin Galbraith. This is a collection of short stories, poems, and other pieces by a writers’ group of which I am a member. My story is “Pauvre Bob”, set at Arlington Race Track in Illinois. You can download it free here:

Hop on over to A Biblio Paradise to read the review of Sandra Worth’s Lady of the Roses, which is one of the most gorgeous historical novels I’ve read in a long time. Tomorrow, hop back on over to read the interview with her.

Still don’t have a lot to say. I read two more books for the essay yesterday and took lots of notes. I did quite a bit of writing, but I’m not at a stage where I can talk about it. I got all warm and fuzzy from another royalty statement, although the numbers aren’t enormous. But royalty statements are still wonderful things, in my opinion.

It’s very strange to have to much internal work going on and not be able to talk about it. I’m not doing it to be secretive; I’m doing it because it’s still at a delicate stage, where talking ABOUT it instead of WORKING on it is counter-productive. It’s like going on an expedition when you don’t know for what it is you’re searching.

I’m going to try to take a break from reading today and concentrate on writing, especially since I’m breaking in the new Canon! And I’ve got to hunt down that HP driver so I can put that up for sale. I remember thinking I’d put it in a very safe place, which of course means I have no idea where it is.

I need to get back to work on the next MEDUSA draft, because it has to be ready to go this week. And I want to get back into BALTHAZAAR. And EARTH BRIDE is bugging me – those characters gave me a few weeks off to concentrate on MEDUSA, but now they want my attention again.

It’s like I’ve said a million times – unfinished work drains one’s creative energy. So finish, already!

Devon

Devon’s Bookstore:

5 in 10: Create 5 Short Stories in Ten Weeks by Devon Ellington. This ebooklet takes you from inspiration to writing to revision to marketing. By the end of ten weeks, you will have either 5 short stories or a good chunk of a novella complete. And it’s only 50 cents, USD. Here.

Writing Rituals: Ideas to Support Creativity by Cerridwen Iris Shea. This ebooklet contains several rituals to help you start writing, get you through writer’s block, and help send your work on its way. It’s only 39 cents USD. (Note: Cerridwen Iris Shea is one of the six names under which I publish). Here.

Full Circle: An Ars Concordia Anthology. Edited by Colin Galbraith. This is a collection of short stories, poems, and other pieces by a writers’ group of which I am a member. My story is “Pauvre Bob”, set at Arlington Race Track in Illinois. You can download it free here:

Twitter Updates

Pages

NMLC’s Mermaid Ball

Devon’s Random Newsletter

To get Devon's Random Newsletter, send an email to devonsrandomnewsletter at gmail dot com with "Subscribe" in the header.

Devon’s Bookstore

GWEN FINNEGAN MYSTERIES

Archaeologist Dr. Gwen Finnegan is on the hunt for her lover’s killer. Shy historical researcher Justin Yates, frustrated with his failing relationship, jumps at the chance to join her on a real adventure through Europe, pursued by factions including Gwen’s ex-lover and nemesis, Karl, as they try to unspool fact from fiction in a multi-generational obsession with a statue of the goddess Medusa.
Buy links here.

Stuck in NYC when plans for their next expedition fall through, Gwen and Justin accept teaching jobs at different local universities. Adjusting to their day-to-day relationship, and juggling the academic and emotional demands of their students, they are embroiled in two different, disturbing, paranormal situations that have more than one unusual crossing point. Can they work together to find the answers? Or are new temptations too much to resist? For whom are they willing to put their lives on the line? Available on multiple digital channels here.

NAUTICAL NAMASTE MYSTERIES

SAVASANA AT SEA

Yoga instructor Sophie Batchelder jumps at the chance to teach on a cruise ship when she loses her job and her boyfriend dumps her in the same day. But when her boss is murdered, and the crew thinks she's taking over her predecessor's blackmail scheme, Sophie must figure out who the real killer is -- before he turns her into a corpse, too. A Not-Quite-Cozy Mystery.
Buy Links here.

COVENTINA CIRCLE ROMANTIC SUSPENSE

PLAYING THE ANGLES
Witchcraft, politics, and theatre collide as Morag D’Anneville and Secret Service agent Simon Keane fight to protect the Vice President of the United States -- or is it Morag who needs Simon’s protection more than the VP?
Buy links here.

THE SPIRIT REPOSITORY
Bonnie Chencko knows books change lives. But she never expected her life to change because she happened to duck into a small bookshop in Greenwich Village on a rainy late November night. She’s attracted to Rufus Van Dijk, the mysterious man who owns the bookshop in his ancestors’ building. A building filled with family ghosts, who are mysteriously disappearing. It’s up to Bonnie and her burgeoning Craft powers to rescue the spirits before their souls are lost forever. Buy Links here.

RELICS & REQUIEM
Amanda Breck’s complicated life gets more convoluted when she finds the body of Lena Morgan in Central Park, identical to Amanda’s dream. Detective Phineas Regan is one case away from retirement; the last thing he needs is a murder case tinged by the occult. The seeds of their attraction were planted months ago, when Phineas investigated an attack on Amanda’s friend Morag. Now, fate is determined to draw them close. But can they work together to stop a wily, vicious killer, or will the murderer destroy them both?
Buy link here.

THE JAIN LAZARUS ADVENTURES

Hex Breaker by Devon Ellington. A Jain Lazarus Adventure. Hex Breaker Jain Lazarus joins the crew of a cursed film, teaming with tough, practical Detective Wyatt East on an adventure fighting zombies, ceremonial magicians, the town wife-beater, the messenger of the gods, and their own pasts.
This series will re-release in 2020.
Visit the site for the Jain Lazarus adventures.</a

Full Circle: An Ars Concordia Anthology. Edited by Colin Galbraith. My story is “Pauvre Bob”, set at Arlington Race Track in Illinois is included in this wonderful collection of short stories and poetry. You can download it free here.